Matt Flores: April 11 runoffs likely to have another low turnout

Judging by early voting ballots so far, Bexar County can expect another lower-than-usual turnout in next week’s primary runoff.

As of Tuesday, after two days of early voting, fewer than 1,200 people had cast ballots, prompting Bexar County elections administrator Jacque Callanen to estimate a low turnout in next Tuesday’s election.

“If we get 3 percent of the registered voters, it’ll be reason for us to shout,” she said.

Just over 7 percent of the Bexar County voters turned out for the March 7 primary, but a general lack of high-energy races is almost certain to translate into another dismal showing in the runoffs.

Besides the Republican runoff for the vacant District 118 House seat, which pits George Antuna and Steve Salyer, three other contests, all for statewide office, include San Antonio-area candidates.

In the Democratic runoff for lieutenant governor, San Antonio native Maria Luisa Alvarado, a research analyst now living in Austin, is squaring off against retired judge Benjamin Grant; In the Democratic runoff for U.S. Senate, Barbara Radnofsky, a Houston attorney, is battling Gene Kelly of Universal City, who is retired from the Air Force; and Ken Mercer, a former state representative from San Antonio, is facing Dan Montgomery of Fredericksburg in the Republican runoff for a spot on the State Board of Education.